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The Mainichi
24-06-2025
- Business
- The Mainichi
Taiwan hosts international anti-disaster workshop with Japan, US
TAIPEI (Kyodo) -- Taiwan co-hosted an international workshop on Monday with Japan, the United States, Australia and Canada to promote collaborative solutions for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, bringing together over 100 participants from more than 30 countries and regions. At an opening ceremony of the three-day event in Taipei, Mami Mizutori, former special representative of the U.N. secretary general for disaster risk reduction, stressed the need for all sectors of society to engage in anti-disaster efforts. "As risk is everyone's business, we need to tackle disaster risk management as a whole of society. And there is no partnership which is not relevant," Mizutori said, calling for collaboration with the private sector, including insurance, telecommunications and technology companies. "I firmly believe that governments need to be proactive in fostering and supporting diverse partnerships," said Mizutori, who headed the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction between 2018 and 2023. The workshop was held under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework, a Taiwan-U.S. platform launched in 2015 to address global and regional challenges. Japan joined in 2019, followed by Australia and Canada. Both Taiwan and Japan are frequently hit by natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons. The self-ruled democratic island maintains unofficial ties with the four other members that jointly run programs under the cooperation framework.
The Hindu
08-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
ICDRI 2025: PM Modi outlines key global priorities to strengthen disaster resilience, early warning systems, coordination
The seventh year of the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI), organised by the New Delhi-headquartered Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), was held on June 6 and 7 in Nice, France. This is the first time the conference was held in Europe with the CDRI as the co-chair. ICDRI 2025 is aligned with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) in Geneva, and third U.N. Oceans Conference (UNOC3), in Nice. This year's focus is on coastal communities, which contribute roughly $1.5 trillion to global GDP annually — a figure projected to rise to nearly $3 trillion by 2030. In addition, nearly 90% of goods moved globally are transported by sea. Addressing virtually, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 7 outlined key global priorities to strengthen disaster resilience, the need for early warning systems and coordination. Major disasters Highlighting the theme of the conference, 'Shaping a Resilient Future for Coastal Regions,' the Prime Minister underscored the vulnerability of coastal regions and islands to natural disasters and climate change. Citing recent disasters, including Cyclone Remal in India and Bangladesh, Hurricane Beryl in the Caribbean, Typhoon Yagi in Southeast Asia, Hurricane Helene in the United States, Typhoon Usagi in the Philippines, and Cyclone Chido in parts of Africa, he emphasised that these disasters had caused significant damage to human lives and property, reinforcing the need for resilient infrastructure and proactive disaster management. 'With its past experiences with devastating disasters, including the super-cyclone of 1999 and the tsunami of 2004, India has adapted and rebuilt with resilience, constructing cyclone shelters across vulnerable areas and contributing to the establishment of a tsunami warning system benefiting 29 countries,' Mr. Modi said. The CDRI is working with 25 Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to build resilient homes, hospitals, schools, energy systems, water security measures, and early warning systems. Mr. Modi talked about the importance of integrating disaster resilience courses, modules, and skill development programmes into higher education to build a skilled workforce equipped to tackle future challenges. 'There is a need for a global digital repository to document best practices and learnings from countries that have faced disasters and rebuilt with resilience. Disaster resilience requires innovative financing; we need to create actionable programmes to ensure developing nations have access to necessary funds as the third priority,' he added. On India's recognition of SIDS as Large Ocean Countries, the Prime Minister emphasised the need for special attention to their vulnerabilities. 'The construction of infrastructure that remain steadfast against time and tide is key; there is a need for resilience in development and with global efforts a strong and disaster-resilient future for the world can be built.' Welcoming African Union as a new member of CDRI, P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and co-chair of the CDRI, announced the African Union Commission as the newest member of the coalition. 'Fifty-four members from different countries have joined the CDRI and are bound by a common belief that resilience must be embedded in the very foundations of development.' Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, said, 'Resilient infrastructure is not just a policy option — it is a necessity for survival. We believe that resilience begins not at the shoreline but in the minds and systems we build.' Rachel Kyte, U.K. Special Representative for Climate, said, 'As climate-fueled disasters escalate, insurers are pulling out, raising rates, and narrowing coverage. It is a pressing global issue, especially urgent for developing economies.' Announcements at the conference included the awarding of research grants for 53 projects spanning 21 countries, as well as a call to action for accelerating infrastructure resilience in small island nations. The emphasis was on the urgent need for global collaboration and investment. About 37% of the world's population lives within 100 km of the coast, where the population density is twice the global average. While all coastal areas face growing challenges, SIDS are especially vulnerable because of their remoteness and isolation. CDRI Director General Amit Prothi said, 'Coastal resilience is essential for safeguarding lives, livelihoods, and economies. Being delivered in Europe for the first time, in partnership with the Government of France, the 7th edition of CDRI's annual conference will again foster inclusive dialogue and forge action-oriented partnerships to advance the cause of disaster-resilient infrastructure. Through our IRIS programme, we are supporting 24 projects across 25 SIDS, driving sustainable and inclusive infrastructure development.' CDRI was launched by Mr. Modi at the U.N. Climate Action Summit in September 2019 and is a major global initiative playing a leadership role in climate change and disaster resilience matters. CDRI released the working paper on 'Infrastructure Resilience in Small Island Developing States'. The paper provides an assessment of infrastructure risks in SIDS, offering policymakers guidance on multi-hazard threats, expected losses, and a resilience framework integrating financial, institutional, governance, nature-based, and technological solutions for sustainable adaptation.
Barnama
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
Malaysia Committed To Strengthening Strategic Cooperation With UNDRR
KUALA LUMPUR, June 5 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is committed to strengthening strategic cooperation with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) to address increasingly complex disaster challenges, particularly those related to climate change and community resilience, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Ahmad Zahid, who is leading the Malaysian delegation to the eighth session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) in Geneva on June 4 and 5, said the matter was discussed during his meeting with UN assistant secretary-general Kamal Kishore, who is also head of UNDRR, at the Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG) today. 'This meeting is highly significant for Malaysia, particularly in our efforts to strengthen strategic collaboration with UNDRR in facing increasingly complex disaster challenges, closely linked to climate change and community resilience,' he said in a statement on his official Facebook page.
The Sun
05-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Malaysia committed to strengthening strategic cooperation with UNDRR
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is committed to strengthening strategic cooperation with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) to address increasingly complex disaster challenges, particularly those related to climate change and community resilience, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Ahmad Zahid, who is leading the Malaysian delegation to the eighth session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) in Geneva on June 4 and 5, said the matter was discussed during his meeting with UN assistant secretary-general Kamal Kishore, who is also head of UNDRR, at the Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG) today. 'This meeting is highly significant for Malaysia, particularly in our efforts to strengthen strategic collaboration with UNDRR in facing increasingly complex disaster challenges, closely linked to climate change and community resilience,' he said in a statement on his official Facebook page. He said the discussions also touched on the potential development of a National Disaster Risk Reduction Act, smarter early warning systems, more accurate flood risk mapping, as well as strategic investments in education and community awareness. Ahmad Zahid shared Malaysia's experience in dealing with the severe floods at the end of last year, which affected over 150,000 people in nine states, stressing the importance of long-term planning and science- and data-based preventive measures. Meanwhile, Kishore praised Malaysia's swift action through the SMART team in its recent humanitarian and search-and-rescue mission in Myanmar, which he said reflected Malaysia's leadership in the ASEAN context. Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia had expressed its readiness to take on a greater role within the framework of regional cooperation under the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) during its ASEAN chairmanship, particularly in enhancing regional disaster preparedness and resilience. 'God willing, through smart partnerships with UNDRR and global partners, we will continue striving to ensure that this country's policies protect lives, safeguard the well-being of the people, and build a more resilient future,' he said.
India Gazette
05-06-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
India showcases world's largest DRR financing system at UN disaster platform in Geneva
Geneva [Switzerland], June 5 (ANI): Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, PK Mishra, highlighted India's robust Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) financing system--cumulatively exceeding USD 28 billion--and called for concrete, time-bound outcomes and the creation of a global facility for catalytic funding, technical assistance, and knowledge exchange. While delivering India's statement at the 8th Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) 2025 in Geneva on Wednesday (local time), Mishra commended the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and its partners for convening the ministerial roundtable on DRR financing, emphasising that its journey from a USD 1 million allocation to a projected USD 42 billion under the 16th Finance Commission underscores the importance of a rule-based, structured financing architecture backed by the Disaster Management Act of 2005. 'India commends the UNDR and its partners for convening this important ministerial roundtable on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) financing. We also appreciate the efforts made by Brazil and South Africa in continuing the global dialogue on this vital subject through their respective G20 presidencies,' Mishra noted in the opening statement. 'For India, DRR financing is not a territorial issue -- it is central to the effective functioning of disaster management systems and the protection of development gains in an era of escalating climate and disaster risks. India believes that a robust and responsive DRR financing architecture is a cornerstone of resilience. Our journey has evolved steadily and purposefully -- starting from an allocation of approximately USD 1 million through the early Finance Commissions, our cumulative outlay now exceeds USD 28 billion and is expected to rise to USD 42 billion under the 16th Finance Commission. India's experience underscores the importance of rule-based, pre-determined allocations that flow seamlessly from the national to the state and district levels. This system is backed by a strong legislative foundation -- the Disaster Management Act of 2005 -- which has transformed disaster financing from a reactive mechanism into a structured and predictable system,' he further added. According to a post on X by the Permanent Mission of India at Geneva, India showcased the world's largest DRR financing system. 'Principal Secretary to PM delivered India's statement at GPDRR 2025 Geneva, showcasing the world's largest nationally anchored DRR financing system. Called for concrete, time-bound outcomes and creation of a global facility for catalytic funding, technical assistance & knowledge exchange,' the post stated. Mishra also held bilateral engagements with Kenya's Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on the sidelines of the summit, focusing on strengthening India-Kenya cooperation in disaster risk reduction and sharing best practices. 'Principal Secretary to PM meets Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen of Kenya on the sidelines of GPDRR2025 Geneva. Productive discussions on strengthening India-Kenya cooperation in various areas, including disaster risk reduction, sharing best practices in DRR, and building resilient communities together,' the Permanent Mission of India at Geneva stated in a post on X. The Principal Secretary also held another productive discussion with the Philippines' Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr, exploring synergies in DRR to build resilient futures. 'Productive bilateral engagement at GPDRR 2025 Geneva, as Principal Secretary to PM holds discussions with DOST Philippines. Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr of Philippines. Exploring synergies in DRR, building bonds for safer, more resilient futures!' The Permanent Mission of India at Geneva stated in another post on X. (ANI)
